Product Information

Overview

The ultimate wireless music system, Bowers & Wilkins' A7 speakers give you the best of quality audio engineering and superior electronics with wireless AirPlay streaming from your iPad, iPhone, and iPod.

Did you notice?

Apple Recommends For

Experience the superb sound of music from your iPad, iPhone, or iPod via AirPlay wireless.

What's in the Box?

Bowers & Wilkins A7 Wireless Music System

Power cord

Remote

Tech Specs

Frequency Response: 36Hz - 42kHz

Input Type: 3.5mm Stereo Jack, USB

Other Features: AirPlay

Connections: AirPlay

Speaker Configurations: Stereo

Drivers: Five

Power Source: AC

Height: 8.66 in./22 cm

Width: 14.17 in./36 cm

Weight: 12.57 lb./5.7 kg

Length: 6.3 in./16 cm

Manufacturer Information

Part Number

Mfr. Part Number: FP33502

UPC or EAN No.: 714346314744

Warranty

Note: Products sold through this website that do not bear the Apple Brand name are serviced and supported exclusively by their manufacturers in accordance with terms and conditions packaged with the products. Apple's Limited Warranty does not apply to products that are not Apple-branded, even if packaged or sold with Apple products. Please contact the manufacturer directly for technical support and customer service.

Outstanding

5.0 out of 5 stars

I recently upgraded from the Zeppelin Air to the new B&W A7. I wondered if the A7 would justify the extra money and within minute
I recently upgraded from the Zeppelin Air to the new B&W A7. I wondered if the A7 would justify the extra money and within minutes of the first use, I was very happy with the upgrade. First, the set up took less than a minute using the B & W app. The same app didn't work as well on the Zeppelin even though they're both using AirPlay devices. It took me over an hour to set up the Zeppelin and it I was only able to do it with an old Gateway laptop. It wouldnt take to my MBA or any of my iOS devices. None the less, it eventually connected and it sounded great. The A7 delivers (IMO) crisper fuller tones. Our great room has 25ft ceilings and the A7 easily fills the room. I took it outside to do yard work and it still sounded great without having wall to bounce sound off of. Plus, it reconnects within seconds of plugging it back in. Again, the Zeppelin takes up to 10 minutes...I moved it one time, and at first thought I had to reconfigure it. Since the A7 reconnects so quickly, I take it with me to another room if I think I'm going to be in it for a while. It's also more compact and can fit into more narrow places, ie the toilet tank. I'm planning on getting at least one more. I want every room to have one. It's so convenient with the airplay. I've never had an interruption or dropped connection. Before I had the dedicated AirPlay speakers, I used apple tv to stream Pandora, but I have to either leave the system on or turn it on every time I want to listen. This stays on standby mode until you're ready.
Lastly, the build quality is classy and conservative. It easily blends with any decor and doesn't compete for attention. I've become a little discriminating to electronics and feel like the music systems should be heard, not seen...that much.
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Written by Edward R from Damascus

Nov 18, 2012

158 of 180 people found this useful

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Outstanding

Awesome Sound & Quality

5.0 out of 5 stars

I bought this item to replace my bose soundlink to play music throughout the house. This unit fills the house with highs & lows. V
I bought this item to replace my bose soundlink to play music throughout the house. This unit fills the house with highs & lows. Very well balanced and clear sound, I don't think its even possible to distort the sound even at the highest volume. Set up was extremely easy using the set up app available for ipad or iphone. I was however expecting the range using airplay to be significantly greater than I experienced with my bluetooth bose but that has not been the case. It cuts out if I walk outside or move behind 2 closed doors. That said airplay does offer other advantages over bluetooth. This unit connects to any device easy once you are logged onto the same network. I would buy this speaker alone just for the sound it produces (and I will for a second one in the bedroom).
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Written by TODD T from Wichita

Nov 13, 2012

126 of 139 people found this useful

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Awesome Sound & Quality

Simply, the best speaker I ever owned

5.0 out of 5 stars

1. Unboxing
Apple-like experience.
2. Appearance/Form factor
Extremely good build quality. Love the minimalistic finish. Fits p
1. Unboxing
Apple-like experience.
2. Appearance/Form factor
Extremely good build quality. Love the minimalistic finish. Fits perfectly in the bookshelf.
2. Setup
Connected to the power cord. Set it up with the App from iPhone. Just had to follow through the user-friendly wizard. It was up and running!
3. Sound quality
Simply magnificent, near sublime sound quality! Response to wide range of frequencies, from bass to tweet is well balanced. No distortions observed even at the maximum volume. (Disclaimer: I am not an audiophile)
4. Extras
B&W gives three months of gift subscription for the Society of Sound where you could obtain high-fidelity FLAC 24-bit albums, with which, the true potential of this system could be unleashed.

Room for improvement:
Although A7 DAC is capable of processing 96kHz 24 bits, currently Airplay (although I am not sure whether is it Apple of B&W to blame) supports only up to 44.1kHz 16 bits.

Obscurity in tech specs:
It is not clearly stated whether A7 supports Wireless N? (since I have a wireless router with a/b/g/n support, I have no way to verify)
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connectivity FIX

Go to your router settings and set up your wifi signal as b/g
Try to setup your A7 with the ethernet cable connected to your pc

Go to your router settings and set up your wifi signal as b/g/n
the system does not work with the new n wifi system.

now everything should work !!!
enjoy
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Written by lucas C

Feb 21, 2015

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connectivity FIX

AVOID

1.0 out of 5 stars

Had this unit for one year and it will not stay connected to the wifi. You have to reset the system every few days. Called custom
Had this unit for one year and it will not stay connected to the wifi. You have to reset the system every few days. Called customer service and they just tell you to check your router settings.
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Written by Richard T from Auburn

Feb 7, 2015

2 of 2 people found this useful

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AVOID

Sound drops 9 out of 10

1.0 out of 5 stars

The sound of A7 is great for it size no doubt it may be the best small box "sound-wise" out there but.... the AirPlay is a total n
The sound of A7 is great for it size no doubt it may be the best small box "sound-wise" out there but.... the AirPlay is a total nightmare, I am not the only one experiencing all sort of issues, read other reviews and you see they are plagued with similar comments.

B&W I paid a premium for this product and I am greatly disappointed with the AirPlay quality, it always drop in the middle of a song... It is your fault or is it Apple? Please release a firmware to solve this issue ASAP!!!
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Answer

cut out can happen at any time, depending on your broadband.
I don't think this is an A7 issue.
It
cut out can happen at any time, depending on your broadband.
I don't think this is an A7 issue.
It only works with 802.11g and not with 802.11n, which is a shame.
Something for Bowers & Wilkins to address, perhaps.
We have Virgin and it uses both 802.11g and 802.11n.
Since we got Virgin, drop out is rare.
So make sure you have 802.11g and make sure it's reliable, as it should be anyway.
I love this speaker.
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Best Answer:

I've had both and enjoyed the Zeppelin, but replaced it with the A7. I wish I had taken the time to
I've had both and enjoyed the Zeppelin, but replaced it with the A7. I wish I had taken the time to listen to them side by side, but I difference was still clear when I received the A7. I don't have the vocabulary of the audiophiles, so I'll do the best I can. There's absolutely no distortion with the A7 even at full volume whereas the Zeppelin distorted ever so slightly. I was also able to enjoy a more spacious sound from the A7 and more pronounced bass. I'd guess it's due to the new design. As I'm writing this review, I listening to a Tracy Chappman track and she sounds lie she's sitting in the room with me. Everything is so unbelievably clear. I warned you my vocab was less than par...Anyways, I hope this helps:)
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Answer

You can add more speakers but they will be playing the same source material. Unlike the Sonos howeve
You can add more speakers but they will be playing the same source material. Unlike the Sonos however (which doesn't use AirPlay) AirPlay is not as stable and you will at some stage, and to varying degrees, experience dropout. It also makes no difference how good your router is or whether you connect the A5/A7 by ethernet - while ever the control component is based on AirPlay you will get dropout. It was something I could not live with despite the 5-star quality of sound - I ended up with Sonos and their rock solid network protocol.
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